The thrill of Elise Testone
By Vince Perna
Local singer Elise Testone possesses a raw, natural talent that absolutely needs to be heard. Her voice is stirring, passionate and has the power to transform your mind.
If you are at a music club and a stirringly passionate voice belting out jazz, soul, and rock strikes your ears, then you have found Elise Testone. I suggest you stay for a while.
Elise delivers the goods with an amazingly soulful voice that cannot be learned; she was born with it. This kind of expressive singing is on display anytime she takes the stage with one of her bands, which include her front band Elise and the Freeloaders, a young neo-soul funk act named Slanguage, and in her spare time she plays with Justin Smith and the Folk Hop Band in Columbia.
“Playing in different bands keeps life interesting,” Elise says. “Nothing ever gets stale”.
Her musical influences include Sam Cooke, Tori Amos, Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, Erykah Badu, and Led Zeppelin, all of which come through in her performances. And her is growing. She is now noticed in clubs and was even recognized trying on clothes in a store fitting room. Her most remarkable recognition came recently when Snoop Dogg called and asked her to open up four shows for him. How many people can say they toured the southeast and spent time in the Dogg house?
With a father who repairs and sells jukeboxes, Elise grew up with a music-filled basement which led her to her love of old soul and rock tunes. She visited Charleston often from her home in New Jersey and finally moved here three years ago. In between, she studied music at Coastal Carolina and was responsible for some of their largest concert crowds with as many as 400 people showing up to performances. She loves playing on Folly Beach and describes the scene as laid back and accepting. The people of Folly want to have a good time and be happy and that is what she wants everyone to do at her shows.
When she’s not singing, she teaches music classes at Music Unlimited in Mount Pleasant, a job which is emotionally fulfilling for her as she hears her students learn and improve. Listening to one of her students’ performances is a point of joy for the singer. She acts as a friend to kids who are going through the typical middle school and high school complications and enjoys every minute of teaching.
Elise admits that previous performances in her younger years were reserved, but she now possesses the confidence that allows her unique talent to strike the soul uncompromised. You can catch her November 4 at Blu with Tyler Ross and November 28 at the Chill and Grill with Slanguage. If you have never heard Elise Testone sing, you do not want to miss this opportunity to catch a such a rare talent. She belongs in the company of divas and for now, we have the opportunity to catch her intimate performances on Folly Beach.
